Manchester Chinese Centre

12/06/2026

Your Oxbridge Journey Starts Here

On 8 April 2026, Manchester Chinese Centre was delighted to welcome Kavi Mehan, Founder and Director of The Oxbridge Launchpad, a leading UK-based Oxbridge admissions preparation platform, to deliver a special seminar for students aspiring to study at the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge. The event attracted around 20 students and parents, generating great interest and engagement.

Kavi Mehan graduated from the University of Cambridge with a First-Class degree and later worked as an investment banker at Rothschild. Drawing on his academic and professional experience, he founded The Oxbridge Launchpad in 2020 to help talented students maximise their chances of securing places at Oxford and Cambridge. He was also a former student of The Manchester Grammar School (MGS).

During the seminar, Kavi provided a comprehensive overview of the Oxbridge admissions process, covering key areas such as academic requirements, personal statement preparation, admissions tests, and interview techniques. He explained that while outstanding academic performance is essential, Oxford and Cambridge also place significant emphasis on intellectual curiosity, critical thinking, and a genuine passion for the chosen subject.

Through real-life examples and success stories, Kavi demonstrated how students can begin preparing from the GCSE stage, develop their academic interests, and build the skills required to stand out in a highly competitive admissions environment. Many students commented that the seminar not only gave them a clearer understanding of the Oxbridge application process but also increased their confidence in pursuing places at the UK's most prestigious universities.

Kavi also introduced The Oxbridge Launchpad and its core programmes. These include Oxbridge Unlocked, a comprehensive online course guiding students through every stage of the application process, and personalised one-to-one academic coaching delivered by current Oxford and Cambridge students and graduates.

As of 2026, The Oxbridge Launchpad has helped students secure more than 500 offers from Oxford and Cambridge. According to the organisation, students who work with the platform have, on average, a 70% higher chance of success in gaining admission.

Manchester Chinese Centre is committed to providing young people within the community with access to high-quality educational opportunities and enrichment activities. This seminar enabled students to gain valuable insight into the expectations of Oxford and Cambridge admissions tutors, while encouraging them to begin planning their academic futures at an early stage.

Following the presentation, students enthusiastically participated in a question-and-answer session and had the opportunity to speak directly with Kavi about their individual aspirations and concerns. Participants described the event as both informative and inspiring, helping them to clarify their goals and better understand the pathway to Oxbridge.

For students who aspire to study at Oxford or Cambridge, this seminar provided invaluable guidance, inspiration, and practical advice on turning ambition into achievement.

10/06/2026

Manchester Chinese Centre Youth Volunteer Career Training Held on
7 April 2026

To help young volunteers broaden their horizons, enhance workplace skills, and plan ahead for their future education and career paths, Manchester Chinese Centre recently organised a Youth Volunteer Career Training Course. A total of eight young volunteers took part and completed five hours of professional training, gaining valuable knowledge and experience.

The training programme was comprehensive and practical, covering many aspects of business management and real-life workplace skills. Topics included the UK business registration system, business operation models, and the differences between limited companies, partnerships, and sole traders. Students were also introduced to basic accounting, taxation, employment contracts, labour law, human resources management, company policies, and workplace regulations, giving them a deeper understanding of the UK working environment.

In addition, the course covered building management, insurance systems, health and safety risk management, project management, time management, and financial management. These practical subjects helped students understand the structure behind business operations and develop essential life skills.

During the course, Headteacher Jenny Wong particularly emphasised the importance of communication skills and social etiquette. She encouraged students to be polite, greet others proactively, and build positive relationships. She also reminded everyone: “Never make an enemy.” She hoped young people would learn to value opportunities, be willing to take risks, and maintain a positive attitude towards life.

In the afternoon session, discussions focused on GCSE and A-Level subject choices, university course selection, and future career planning. Students were encouraged to reflect on their interests, abilities, and long-term goals in preparation for the future.

During the training, students were also taken to visit the community elderly Cantonese Opera Club. This helped them understand that Manchester Chinese Centre offers not only a Chinese school, but also wider community services for senior citizens and many other charitable activities. Students also gained insight into how community organisations are registered and operated.

At the same time, solicitor Nicole Soi was invited to share information about the legal profession and career pathways in law, giving students a clearer understanding of professional careers and inspiring future possibilities.

Drawing on her own rich life experience in many different industries, the Headteacher encouraged students to bravely explore their life paths and shared a thought-provoking message:

“Life is not about finding yourself, it is about creating yourself.”
“生命不是寻找自我，而是创造自我。”

At the end of the course, the Headteacher used the game of musical chairs as a metaphor for career competition in modern society, teaching students how to accept gains and losses, face challenges, and resolve conflicts through effective communication skills.

Upon completion, students were awarded certificates recognising five hours of shopping centre work experience and five hours of Manchester Chinese Centre training, making a total of ten hours of work experience training.

This career training programme was rich in content and highly valuable. It not only improved the young volunteers’ understanding of employment and society, but also helped them build a positive outlook on life and career development, laying a strong foundation for their future.

After the event, many students shared their reflections, saying that both the volunteering experience and training course had been highly rewarding.

“Volunteering gave me the confidence to step out of my comfort zone and communicate with strangers.” — Jessica

“I learned how to communicate with people of all ages while developing responsibility and confidence.” — Olivia

“Meeting a lawyer and hearing about her career journey inspired me to think more seriously about my future.” — Carson

“The course gave me a clearer understanding of the workplace and greater confidence about the future.” — Tina

“Learning about pensions, taxation, and employment contracts has helped me feel more prepared for working life.” — Aaron

“This experience has given me greater confidence about entering the workplace and becoming an active member of society.” — Qu Yihui

04/06/2026

On 22nd April 2026, 25 volunteers from Keep Britain Tidy joined us at Manchester Chinese Centre for a Chinese calligraphy workshop. It was led by our teacher, Winnie Tang.

Travelling from different towns and cities across the Greater Manchester area, they came to experience this traditional Chinese art form.

Over two enjoyable and peaceful hours, they learned to write with soft Chinese calligraphy brushes and discovered the unique charm of traditional Chinese ink. Through practising brush strokes and Chinese characters, they gained an appreciation of the beauty, mindfulness, and cultural significance of Chinese calligraphy. It was a rewarding cultural experience filled with creativity, learning, and plenty of smiles.

14/05/2026

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Manchester Chinese Centre (MCC), Headteacher Jenny Wong was interviewed to share the heartfelt journey behind founding and leading the centre over the past two decades. During the interview, she reflected on her unwavering dedication to Chinese language education and the preservation of Chinese culture, as well as the many challenges and rewards experienced along the way. Her commitment has helped nurture generations of Chinese families in Manchester, enabling children growing up overseas to remain connected to their roots, heritage, language, and cultural identity.

Manchester has long been one of the major cities for the Chinese community in the UK. Over the years, the city has become home to many Chinese families and has witnessed the growth, diversity, and continuation of Chinese culture across generations. The Chinese community in Manchester is itself richly diverse, with families coming from various linguistic and cultural backgrounds, including Cantonese, Hakka, Fujianese, Teochew, and Mandarin-speaking communities. As a result, MCC has become not only a well-known Chinese school in Manchester, but also an important cultural hub where children and families gather every weekend to learn the Chinese language, traditions, values, and customs in a warm, welcoming, and supportive environment.

The interview was conducted by Tan Lay, a social media marketing and communications manager who recently relocated from Finland to Manchester. Having a Chinese grandfather, Tan Lay feels a special personal connection to Chinese culture and heritage. Motivated by his own interest in the Chinese community and cultural identity, he approached the interview with genuine curiosity and appreciation. This conversation therefore became more than just an interview about education and cultural preservation; it evolved into a meaningful exchange that connected generations through shared heritage, identity, migration stories, and collective cultural memory.

Jenny Wong founded the Manchester Chinese Centre in 2005 -- teaching Chinese classes and organising events and workshops all over the city to spread awarenes...

06/05/2026

A level and GCSE Chinese speaking exam

The annual Chinese Speaking Examination was held on 4 May in a lively and encouraging atmosphere. From 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., six dedicated speaking examiners worked tirelessly to conduct Mandarin and Cantonese speaking examinations for around one hundred candidates. Among them were 70 GCSE candidates and 30 A Level candidates, including our school students and private candidates.

Over the years, the number of applicants has continued to grow, with places consistently fully booked and even oversubscribed. This not only reflects the increasing popularity of learning Chinese in the UK, but also highlights the hard work and passion of students, parents, teachers, and the wider Chinese community in promoting Chinese language and culture abroad.

The photo shows speaking examination team from Manchester Chinese Centre.

14/04/2026

Before the spring holiday in April, the Chinese school specially prepared volunteer service certificates for its youth volunteers, in order to commend and recognise their contributions.

Manchester Chinese Centre organised and led students to take part in a variety of community activities, including Christmas parades, singing Chinese songs in Chinatown and at the Central Library during the Chinese New Year period, participating in a 380-metre dragon dance, and promoting Chinese culture in Trafford Centre. Through these experiences, the school hopes that students will be able to apply the skills they have gained from volunteering, such as time management, event preparation, communication with people from different backgrounds, a strong sense of responsibility and etc to their future lives and careers.

These experiences are extremely valuable for personal growth. Volunteering not only helps young people develop in a well-rounded way, enhancing their organisational skills and sense of responsibility, but also allows them to engage with real-life situations beyond the classroom and gain knowledge that cannot be learned from textbooks. Moreover, these experiences can be included in their CVs, making them more impressive and leaving a stronger, more positive impression in future.

12/04/2026

During both regular periods and the Spring Festival, Manchester Chinese Centre promotes a wide variety of engaging and enriching Chinese cultural workshops across the Greater Manchester area in the UK. These activities allow participants to experience the unique charm of Chinese culture through hands-on participation.

Among them, the lantern-making workshop is especially popular with children. They create colourful lanterns in various shapes, such as dragons, goldfish, and rabbits, and take their handmade creations home to decorate.

Teacher Winnie leads a range of vibrant handicraft workshops, including lantern-making, paper folding, and paper-cutting. She is also skilled in teaching calligraphy, enabling participants to appreciate the beauty and essence of Chinese culture through brush and ink.

Teacher Chen Xiaoling specialises in teaching Tai Chi and ribbon dragon dance to both adults and children. The gentle and graceful movements of Tai Chi help improve physical health while enhancing concentration. When children take part, their enthusiasm adds a lively and delightful energy to the sessions.

Meanwhile, Teacher Siew-Kiang Ng, an experienced calligraphy teacher, leads Spring Festival couplet writing and calligraphy classes. Participants can take home their own couplets and “Fu” characters, bringing with them blessings and a strong festive spirit.

Manchester Chinese Centre offers the following workshops throughout the year:

1. Lantern-making
2. Paper folding
3. Paper-cutting
4. Tai Chi
5. Ribbon dragon dance
6. Calligraphy
7. Chinese storytelling workshops

Through these diverse and engaging activities, Manchester Chinese Centre not only preserves and promotes the richness of traditional Chinese culture, but also provides a valuable platform for people of all ages in the UK to learn, interact, and experience Chinese culture.

08/04/2026

Anti-Fraud Notice

08/04/2026

On the evening of 9 February 2026, a meaningful Chinese New Year celebration was held for the homeless community in Manchester.
The event aimed to share festive joy, warmth, and support during the Chinese New Year season.

Approximately 60 people attended. Guests were served hot Chinese food and drinks in a welcoming and friendly atmosphere.

On 24 February 2026, a Chinese New Year celebration was held at Brunswick Parish Church for the wider local community, particularly supporting those experiencing poverty and loneliness. This one-hour lunchtime event welcomed around 30 attendees. Free hot Chinese food and drinks were provided, and the event followed an open-door policy, welcoming all members of the community.

Both events were successful and meaningful celebrations of Chinese New Year.
Through collaboration and community support, over 90 people in Manchester were welcomed and supported during the festive season.
The events reflected the true spirit of the Chinese New Year — sharing warmth, hope, unity, and compassion.

01/04/2026

Blessing Packages for the Year of the Horse

This year, the year of Horse, warmth continues to flow through our community. On February 4th, volunteers from the Manchester Chinese Centre visited elderly residents across Greater Manchester, delivering thoughtfully prepared “Blessing Packages” along with heartfelt New Year greetings.

This year, the Manchester Chinese Centre prepared generous New Year gift for 16 seniors, including a large sack of rice, festive snacks like laughing jujubes, assorted holiday foods, char siu, roast pork, and a traditional “Fu” character couplet symbolising good fortune. Each package carried the volunteers’ love and blessings for the coming year.

These seniors were among those cared for by the Manchester Chinese Centre during the difficult days of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Although the pandemic has passed, the bond remains. Our volunteers continue to visit them every year, bringing New Year goods, warm wishes, and companionship—ensuring they feel the joy and spirit of the festival even far from their homeland.

For those living in care homes, the visits are especially meaningful. Many eagerly look forward to seeing Chinese visitors who can chat with them in their home language. A box of hit char siu rice or roast pork rice brought not only comfort but also satisfied their “Chinese taste,” this has lighted up their faces with delight.

All items in the blessing packages £642.33 were generously donated by individuals and local businesses. It is the kindness of these supporters that keeps this tradition alive and fills the New Year with warmth and love.